MEET OUR FOUNDER - ELLIS WYMS

As a sixth round draft pick out of Mississippi State, Ellis Wyms quickly established himself as a mainstay on one of the most renowned defenses in NFL history. On his way to a successful eight-year NFL career, Wyms reached the pinnacle of the sports world in just his second season, helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take home their first and only championship in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Following the conclusion of his playing career, Ellis launched Athletes for Computer Science. Despite a successful NFL career, a pathway to that success in football was not always clear to Ellis. Born and raised in rural Mississippi, he envisions a world where students from all communities have the same opportunities to develop skills in computer science. As industries continue to be shaped by technology, it was clear to Ellis that these tools are needed for students to be successful in a 21st century job market.

“Growing up in a small town, you realize when you are older that there are certain academic opportunities that might not be available to you in rural areas - I want to solve that problem. Computer science is becoming more and more important, with nearly every industry being technology-based. For a student to get an introduction to computer science and start to see themselves in a different light is something we hope to accomplish.”

Through AFCS, Ellis hopes to inspire students to think outside of their current environment and dream big. As the reach of AFCS has grown, he has been inspired by the enthusiasm students bring to each lesson. Ellis is committed to matching that enthusiasm with every student AFCS impacts.